Carrying handle with locking feature



June 24, 1958 s. F. JENSEN CARRYING HANDLE WITH LOCKING FEATURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1955 FIG.5

.INVENTOR.

STEPHEN F. JENSEN ATTORNEYS S- F. JENSEN CARRYING HANDLE WITH LOCKING FEATURE June 24, 1958 Filed May 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VFIG.7

a z G/m INVENTOR.

. STEPHEN F. JENSEN BY {6% fim ATTORNEYS Patented June 24, 1958 2,840,234 CARRYING HANDLE LOCKING FEATURE Stephen F. Jensen, City Island, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 9, 1955, Serial No. 506,747 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates generally, to devices for carrying a plurality of containers and the like and has particular reference to a novel handle which locks into place as a member of a unitary package of containers.

In the marketing of milk in rectangular fibre containers it is often desirable to tie two containers together with a surrounding fibre band to produce a unitary package. A handle is frequently provided for the convenience of the purchaser in carrying the package. The handle very often is a separate member introduced endwise be tween the containers adjacent their top edges. It has been found that such a free handle sometimes slips out of place and is lost during shipment and therefore is not available for use by the purchaser of the package.

It is an object of the instant invention to overcomesthis difficulty by the provision of a handle which is formed so as to interlock with the side seams usually provided on milk containers so that the handle is held against displacement in all directions and therefore is always available to the purchaser of the-package.

Another object is the provision of such a handle which is economical to manufacture and is readily assembled with the container package.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: p

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of juxtaposed fibre milk containers banded .together for carrying as a unitary package by a handle embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the containers shown in Fig. l, the view showing the position of the handle between the containers;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan viewof a blank from which the handle is made;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the handle in relation to the side seams of the containers, the containers being broken'away and shown in section to more clearly show the relative positions of the side seams; v f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 in Fig. 2, parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of handle; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the handle shown in Fig; 6 after being applied to a pair of juxtaposed containers as shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken substantially along the line 77 in Fig. 6.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant inventionthe drawings illustrate a handle A (Figs. 1 and 4) for carrying a pair of fibre milk containers B disposed in juxtaposed relation and tied together by a.

' surrounding fibre band C. Thecontainers B preferably are of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979 issued July 6,1937 to John M. Hothersall: on Container. Such containers comprisea rectangular body D having flat side walls E which at their upper ends are formed with necked-in portions F and an immediately adjacent outwardly or laterally projecting end seam or ledge G which surrounds the periphery of and secures in place a flat top member H. p

The body D of the containers B preferably is made 7 from a one-piece flat blank folded along transverse crease lines to provide a tubular rectangular body having the fiat side wallsE. Themarginal end portions of theblank when folded into body shape are overlapped and ad 7 hesively secured together to provide a lap side seam J which holds the body together. The side seams I of the bodies are disposed in one of the Hat side walls .E and extend for the full length of the container from top to bottom, being disposed in the ledge or end seam G, the necked-in portion F as well as the side wallsE. The lapped marginal endportions of the body in the side seam due to the thickness of the material from which the body is made, provide a definite step K (see FigsQ4 and 5) on the outside of the container body.

When two, containers B are disposed in side-by-side or. juxtaposed relation for banding together as shown in Fig. 1, the two side walls E containing the side seams J arearranged directly opposite each other in substantially contiguous relation and the corresponding sections of the ledges G for these side walls thus extend trans-. versely of the package with their outer edges parallel and substantially coincident. In this relation the steps K of the two opposed side seams I are directly opposite each other as" best shown in Fig. 5. These steps K are utilized to lock the handle in place as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The tie band C preferably is made from a single piece of fibre material having its end portions overlapped against one side Wall E of one of the containers B as shown in Fig. l. The overlapped end portions are secured together in any suitable manner, as by wire staples or adhesive interposed between the end portions, to hold the band in place and to thus tie the containers together.

The handle A (Figs. 1 and '4) preferably is made'from a one-piece blank 11 (Fig. 3) of heavy stiif paperor cardboard and of generally rectangular configuration. The blank 11 is provided with a centrally located trans verse crease or fold line 12 and on each side of the fold line the blank is further provided with handle openings' 13. Diagonally oppositecorners of the blank 11 are cutaway to provide rectangular notches I5, 16 defined by transverse edges 17 which extend halfway across the blank and byrlon'gitudinal edges 18, 19 which are located in longitudinal alignment. .ThenotchesIS, 16

set off at each end of the blank, longitudinally extending notch-edges 17 align endwise withthe tabs 21, 22 depending in edgewise relation from the bottom of the handle. V V t t The two layers of the handle preferably are secured together by a suitable adhesive interposed between the layers. The tab 22 on one layer (at the left in Figs. 2 and 4) is bent at a slight angle under the opposite adjacent layer (at the right) and then is bent upwardly along its crease line 24 to produce a channelled or V- shaped support member 26'having a free upright outer leg-, themember: extending the full width of the tab 22 and having at its inner. endthe edge 19 which now con stitutes a handle locking edge or element. W

,In a similar. manner. thetab 21 on the opposite layer of the. handle (at;.the right in Figs. land '4) is bent at a; slight angle under thexother adjacent layer (at the left) and then alongits crease line 24. is bent upwardly to produce a channelled orV-shaped support member 27 having a free upright outer.leg,,the member extending the fullwidth of'sthe tab 21 but inan opposite direction relative to the support member 26 and having at its inner end the edge 18 which now constitutes a handle locking edge: or element opposed to the. handle locking edge 19. 1,, The handle A at its lower end is thus provided with a pair of channelshaped support members 26,27 respectively depending from-opposed layers of the handle and each support member crossing from, its layer beneath the transverse edge 17 of its opposed layer to provide oppositely, disposed and oppositely directed positions for the support members as best shown in Fig. 2. I, The support members thus lock each other against endwise or longitudinal movement in respect to the handle axis. In this relation of the, support members 26, 27 their inner,

opposite sides of the handle but are in transverse-alignment. P

, Hence when thehandle A is applied to the unitary package as shown in Fig. l, it is disposed betweenthe substantially coincident ledges G of the banded together iuxtaposedcontainersas shown in Fig. 2 with the channel shaped support members 26, 27 engaged'beneath the ledgesin thespace between the necked-in portions F of the respective containers. In this position the terminal outer edges of the support members 26, 27 engage against the lower surface of the respective ledges G of the containers and thus support thebanded containers while being carried. In this positionof the handle A the handle locking elements oredges 18, 19 at the inner edges of the respective support members 27, 26 align with and engage against the steps K of the container side seams] as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Sincethe .steps K on the oppositely disposed side seams. J, are themselves oppositely disposed in transverse relation and-in engagement with the oppositely disposed locking edges 18, 19 on the handle, the handle is securelyloc'ked against endwisemovement relative .to the conatinersl The handle is also locked lon: gitudinally of the package between the substantially coincident ledges G and also vertically by the supportmembers.26, .27, engaging beneath the ledges G... f The support membersl26,'27 being of channel 'shape, the outer leg of each of the channelsyieldablycngages against the outer wall of the containers at the necked? in portions F (Fig. 2) by. reason of the inherent springiness of the fibre material from which the handle is made and thus efiects a we dgi ngof. the support members 26, 27 against the outer faces of the necked-in'portions F to lo clcfthehandle against 'vertical movement. j p I In the containersfiillustrated in the drawings the side seams J are shown asibeingjparranged with the steps K of theseams directly opposite each"ot-her.l This islthe handle locking edges or, elements lti, 19 are disposed on way the actual containers are made. However itishould be understood that the steps K need not be in this aligned relation and that the invention is equally well adapted by slightrelocation of the locking edges 18, 19 of the support members 26, 27 to accommodate the handle A to engage against steps K which are in non-aligned relation.

In some cases it may be desired to reenforce the support members 26, 27 to carry heavier loads. Figs. 6 and 7 disclose such a reenforcement as a modified form of these members. In thisalternate form of the invention the tabs 21, 22 in the handle blank 11 shown in Fig. 3 are made slightly longer so as to provide for fold-- ing the outer legs of the channel shaped support members back onthemselves to produce a double layer leg 31 on each of the members. .The layers of these legs may be adhesivc ly secured together if desired. This double layer construction results in added rigidity and strength to the support mernbersr; q

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in'the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

. I claim:

1. The combination of a pair of independent rectangular fibre containers having peripheral laterally projecting top ledges, said containers being disposed in juxtaposed relation with portions of said ledges arranged in transversely aligned parallel relation, means for tying said containers together as a unitary package, a handle mem ber interposed between said parallel ledge portions and extending aboveand below said ledges for carrying said p'ackage,.said handle, member comprising two integral contacting layers of material connected and folded at their upper ends andeach layer terminating at its lower end in a tab member at one side defined by a rectangular notch at the opposite side thereof, the tab member of each layer being disposed in registry with the, notch of the other layer, said tab members being medially folded upwardly to constitute channel-like container support members of V-shape in cross section respectively extending downwardly through said notches and thence extending upwardly in free ends, each of said supportmembers being locked against longitudinal shifting movement by the adjacent edge of one of said notches, said free ends of said channel-like support members respectively engaging beneath and against said transversely aligned ledge portions of the juxtaposed containersrfor supporting the, containers in carrying position.

2. The combination of a pair of independent rectangular fibre containers having lap side seams each including an exterior step and also having peripheral laterally projecting top ledges, means for confining said containers in contiguous relation with opposed portions of said ledges disposed in transverse registry and with saidside seams in adjacently opposed relation to constitute a unitary package, a folded handle member of double thickness interposed between and extending beneath said container ledges for carrying said package, each of said handle member thicknesses terminating at its lower end in an upwardly folded support member at one side thereof set off, by a rectangular notch at, the opposite side thereof with the support member of eachhandle thickness extending through the notch of the other handle thickness andextending upwardly on the opposite side thereof to lock said support members against endwise .movement towards. each other, the free ends, of said upwardly folded support members respectively engaging beneath said transversely aligned top ledges of the juxtaposed containers for supporting said unitary package in carrying position. 7 t

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the inner ends of said support members are disposed in substantial transverse alignment and respectively abut against the aforesaid exterior steps of said container side seams for locking said handle member against longitudinal movement relative to and transversely of said package. 4. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein said containers adjacent said ledges are provided with a necked-in portion and wherein said support members are of channel shape with their free ends engageable against the necked-in portions of said containers for frictionally retaining said handle member in place.

5. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein said support members are of channel shape and the free ends of said support members are of double 6 thickness for respective reenforced engagement beneath said transversely aligned container ledges for supporting said unitary package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,962,920 Trautz June 12, 1934 2,676,744 Baselt Apr. 27, 1954 2,693,385 Cavalli Apr. 2, 1954 2,694,596 Greenlaw Nov. 16, 1954 2,713,508 Austin July 19, 1955 

